Proven winner, master motivator, tireless recruiter and charismatic leader - it was those qualities that led the University of Oklahoma to name Pete Hughes as the ninth head baseball coach in program history. Joe Castiglione, vice president and director of athletics, made the announcement today.

Twice named both the New England Coach of the Year and the BIG EAST Coach of the Year, as well as the 2000 American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the Year, Hughes owns a well-deserved reputation for setting new standards of excellence at every stop during his 17-year coaching career.

Hughes recorded five straight 30-win seasons at Virginia Tech, including a pair of 40-win campaigns that culminated with NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2013. He inherited a club that hadn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2000 and went on to compile a 222-174 (.561) record in seven seasons with the Hokies from 2007-13.

"Pete Hughes is an ideal choice as our new baseball coach," said University of Oklahoma president David L. Boren. "He is not only a talented coach, above all, he shares the best values of our university family. He will be a player-oriented coach. We enthusiastically welcome him to OU."

Hughes staged an even more dramatic turnaround at Boston College, taking over a program that had averaged a meager 13 wins per year over the previous 35 seasons. The Eagles finished 17-23-1 the year before his arrival in 1998. Two years later, the club registered an 18-game improvement under Hughes' leadership, finishing 35-20 and making the club's second-ever appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament. In 2005, he guided Boston College to a school-record 37 victories.

"As we conducted our research, we kept finding more and more reasons why Pete Hughes would be an excellent fit to lead the OU Baseball program," said Castiglione. "First and foremost, Pete brings a winning pedigree as a head coach with NCAA postseason experience. His proven track record as an accomplished national recruiter was also a prerequisite for OU Baseball.

"Pete is highly respected in the baseball community with good reason. We are confident that his energetic attitude and competitive spirit will resonate with our student-athletes, our community and Sooner fans across the nation. Pete has embraced the lofty expectations associated with OU Baseball and appreciates the distinguished tradition that has been established over many generations. We are excited and privileged to welcome Pete, Debby and their five children to the University of Oklahoma family."

In 17 seasons as a head coach, Hughes owns a career record of 524-385-2 (.576), including his stints at Boston College (1999-2006) and Trinity University (1997-98).

"On behalf of Debby and our children, we are incredibly thrilled to embrace this tremendous opportunity at the University of Oklahoma," said Hughes. "We appreciate the trust and confidence that President Boren and Joe Castiglione have placed in me. There are only a handful of institutions and athletics programs around the nation that I would consider marquee destinations, and the University of Oklahoma easily ranks among the very best jobs in collegiate baseball.

"The combination of respected leadership, a distinguished tradition of academic and athletic excellence, passionate fans and first-class facilities are a rare combination. I'm invigorated by the challenge of getting the Sooners back to the College World Series and can't wait to get on the field with our student-athletes. I am also enthused to get back to a region where I began my head coaching career and have enjoyed recruiting throughout the years."

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